A new 鈥楶ost Office in a Box鈥 - which is less than a metre squared - is being trialled in Durham, offering customers a range of services where there in an area of urgent need.
Core Convenience Store in Newton Hall is one of only five locations across the 海角视频 currently testing the new pop-up Post Office concept, which measures just 84.5cm by 84.5cm, and uses 4G technology to offer everything from cash withdrawals and deposits to bill payment services and the sending and collecting of mail and parcels.
Andrew Board, the store鈥檚 owner, contacted the Post Office earlier this year to become a postmaster. His shop is less than a mile from where the Post Office had an outlet in Newton Hall, which closed in January this year.
He said: 鈥淟ocal communities really rely on having access to Post Office services. Since operating this new 鈥楶ost Office in a Box鈥, we鈥檝e found that everyday banking and being able to drop off parcels and letters have been popular.
鈥淲e have a lot of elderly customers who live nearby and being able to withdraw cash at the counter has been particularly important to them, especially as the nearest bank branch is several miles away.鈥
The pop-up Post Office - which is currently available six days a week - will be in operation until a new permanent counter is installed at the Core Convenience Store, when opening hours will increase to daily.
Ian Murphy, Post Office change manager for the North East, said: 鈥淲e are working to shape a modern and dynamic Post Office that places our postmasters and customers at the centre of our business. Using innovative design, a 鈥楶ost Office in a Box鈥 can be sent to a location, plugged in and offering a range of Post Office products within a couple of hours.
鈥淔eedback from Newton Hall will help us ensure Post Office services can be established in areas where there is an urgent need.鈥
The trial is also currently taking place in London, Fakenham in Norfolk, Conwy in Wales and Stevenage, in addition to Newton Hall.
A further 25 are due to be trialled within the next two months.
